FORT KNOX, Ky. – U.S. Army Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the Team Development Course during Cadet Summer Training on Fort Knox, Ky., July 22, 2023.

The TDC is designed to enhance teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills among participants. It involves a series of challenging and physically demanding exercises that require collaboration and cooperation to accomplish specific objectives.

Cadet Jessica Stanfill from The University of Denver shares her experience at the team development course.

“I think that it has been a good change of pace, the first 17 days we have basically done drill and ceremony and individual skills,” Stanfill said. “This is the first chance we have had to talk, communicate and work as a team without being told what to do by the drill sergeants.” 

As Cadets adjust from individual to team activities they work on new skills. For each obstacle, there is a designated “squad” leader. 

“When you present a challenge in front of 12 people that don’t know each other and then say figure it out you have 12 opinions off the bat,” Stanfill said. “However, I do think we are doing a good job saying ‘okay you are the squad leader, take charge.’”

Stanfill was not the only one who observed a large group of leaders learning to step back, Cadet William Breen from Benedictine College shared this experience.

“There’s a little aspect of everybody’s trying to talk all at once,” Breen said. “Personally, I like to try and take charge of situations so it’s challenging for me to step back because engaging doesn’t always work but I enjoy it.

Although a leader must take charge in these scenarios, communication is always still vital to the success of a team. Breen touched on how his squad has been communicating.

“This is a struggle but it’s going well, we have all gotten to know each other over these past three weeks,” Breen stated. “So, we are all a little more comfortable voicing our opinions around each other. 

Leadership and communication skills not only carry the Cadets through camp but are the foundation for their future endeavors.

Breen left off on advice for future Cadets.

“Understand that it is going to be hard but come into it with an attitude of attacking it rather than passively going through it,” Breen stated. “If you attack it, it becomes yours, conquer it.”